Understanding the Jewish Rituals to Bring Care and Comfort in the Face of Loss. Please join Rabbi Neil P.G. Hirsch and Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman in this workshop to explore not only the how-to aspects of this period of one's life, but the why. Why do we do what we do as Jews when death occurs? Because the rituals are powerful. They are expressions of honor, care, and compassion for the individual who has died, as well as for those who are in mourning.